The Consolation of Philosophy

The Consolation of Philosophy occupies a central place in the history of Western thought. Its author, Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (ca. 476526 c.e.), was a Roman philosopher, scholar, and statesman who wrote The Consolation of Philosophy while in a remote prison awaiting his execution on dubious political charges. The text of this Norton Critical Edition is based on the translation by Richard H. Green. It is accompanied by the editors preface and full-scale introduction to the work, the translators preface, and explanatory annotations. Contexts reprints selections from the texts that Boethius drew upon for his own work. These include excerpts from two of Platos Dialogues (Gorgias and Timaeus), from Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics, and from Augustines On Free Choice of the Will. Criticism collects five wide-ranging essays by major scholars of Boethius. Henry Chadwick presents a general introduction to Boethiuss life and works. Nelson Pike presents a clear and insightful interpretation of what Boethius means by writing that God is eternal (timeless). The final three essaysby William Bark, Edmund Reiss, and John Marenbonall depart from traditional readings of The Consolation of Philosophy in significant ways and are sure to stimulate classroom discussion. A Chronology of Boethiuss life and work and a Selected Bibliography are also included.